Pluggable reed relay package



DCC- 8, 1964 l.. A. DEPEw PLUGGABLE REED RELAY PACKAGE Filed April 1, 1965 VVE/V705 LYNDON A. DEPEW FIG. 2

United States Patent O 3,160,724 PLUGGABLE REED RELAY PACKAGE Lyndon A. Depew, Endicott, NSY., assigner to International Business Machines Corporation, New Yorlr, NX., a corporation ol New York Filed Apr. l, 1965, Ser. No. 269,606 8 Claims. (Cl. Zilli- 87) This invention relates to the packaging of dry reed switches, and more particularly to a pluggable reed relay mounted on a printed circuit card or 'the like.

As is well know, the dry reed switch basically comprises two overlapping magnetic cantilever beams surrounded by a dry inert gas and sealed in a glass envelope. Upon the application of a magnetic ield supplied for instance by energizing coils or permanent magnets, the reeds are attracted together to close the switch.

An object of the invention is to provide a generally improved and more satisfactory dry reed switch package having the features of economical production and assembly, and convenient servicing and testing.

Another obiect is the provision ot' a new and improved reed relay package which can be made readily in various sizes to accommodate one or more normally closed or normally open reed switches and the required heldV producing device or devices.

Yet another object is to provide a new and improved pluggable reed relay package for printed circuit cards designed so that 4assembling the package to the cards achieves the dual purpose of mechanical and electrical connection.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view, partly diagrammatic, of the reed relay package according to the invention mounted on a printed circuit card; and

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the assembled reed relay package showing a modiiied end plug, the end plug being illustrated withdrawn in dotted lines.

The printed circuit board reed relay shown in the drawing includes a maximum of four dry reed switches, although it will be understood that a similar package may be made in diterent sizes to accommodate one to six or more reed switches. Each of the reed switches comprises two reeds 11 land 13 of magnetic material supported as `overlapping cantilever-s and hermetically sealed inside a glass envelope 1S. The glass sealing envelope 15 frees the overlapping contact ends from external environmental ellects and also encloscs the most favorable `gaseous environment, such as dry nitrogen, for the operation of the contacts. The reeds have at either end coaxial wirelike Shanks or leads 17 external to the glass seal 19. For further information on the construction and operation of a reed switch, see for example U.S. Patent 2,289,830 to W. B. Ellwood dated luly 14, 1942. A particular reed switch which may be used is that described in they copending application SN. 229,457 of l?. R. Schulz led October 9, 1962, and entitled Reed Switch Manufacture,

lwhich is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The reed switches are contained side by side in a single layer within a hollowedout bobbin 2l having a central hub Z3 and integral end blocks or iianges 25 and 27.

3,160,724 Patented Dec. 8, 1964 "ice A pair of energizing coils 2@ and 31 are wound around the external surface of the hub Z retained by the opposing surfaces of the end blocks 25 and 27. It is understood that FIG. l diagrannnatically illustrates the coils, and that in actual practice the coils have many turns and build up to a thickness and terminate just short of the end blocks. Although it is possible to use only one energizing coil to operate the reed switches, it is more economical to use two coils, the lirst of which operates initially to provide the relatively strong magnetic field needed to close the reed Contact ends and which remains on until the second coil is energized to provide the relatively weak magnetic field needed to keep the contacts closed, once they are initially brought into contact or picked To provide the necessary electrical isolation from one reed relay package to the next when mounted in proximity, magnetic shielding tape 32 is wound around the hub 23 over the coils 2 and 3l. Each end of the coils 29 and 31 is wrapped around one ot the four coil terminal lugs 33 and soldered to provide good electrical connection.

The terminal lugs 33 are mounted at the ends of the elongated end blocks 25 and 27 in the portions projecting laterally beyond the edges of the hub 23. The extremif ties ot each end block have vertical bores 35 which, for convenience of molding of the bobbin 21, have approximately a square cross-section. Transverse to the axis of each bore 35 is a slot 37 which extends approximately mid-way into the bore at a point about a little more than halt-way down the height of the end block. At right angles to the slot 37 and above it, approximately parallel to `the inner side wall of the bore 35, is another slot 39. The two slots 3'7 and 39 together suggest a T-shape.

Before assembly, the coil terminal lug 3.3 is L-shaped and comprises an elongated tlat terminal end from which projects a wire-like Contact di. The terminal lug 33 is adapted to be inserted automatically into the slots 3'7 and 39 from the side, the Contact il grounding against the ends of the slot 3'?. The flattened terminal end extends upwardly in the slot 39 and is frictionally held in place by the rounded projection d3. An end of one of the coils 21@ or 3l is attached to its respective terminal lug 33 by inserting the end sidewardly into the inner end of the slot 3'? and then upwardly through the slot 39 and is wrapped several times around the end of the lug in that portion having opposing recesses in its edges to better secure the winding. iter securing all four coil ends in this manner, they wrapped terminal ends are dip soldered and turned down through about into the recesses 45 in the end blocks.

in order to provide electrical connection with the wirelike contacts l1 or the terminal lugs 33, opposing pairs of biturcated connectors 47 yare mounted upstanding from a printed circuit card 49 or the like on `which the reed relay package is pluggable. The connectors 47 which are illustrated are stamped out connectors attached to the card 49 by a bead 5l at one side and is nipped oil to secure the connector at the other side (not here shown). On the other side of the card 49, likewise not here shown, the connectors i7' make connection to printed circuit line or land patterns and are preferably soldered. The upper end of the connector 47 has an inwardly tapering tubular conguration terminating in outwardly flaring lips 53 providing an opening which connects withopposing slots 55. Upon plugging the package onto the card 49, the contacts 41 of the terminal lugs are engaged by the llaring lips 53 and slide downwardly into the opposing slots 55 as is illustrated in dotted lines to become securely wedged in place and provide good electrical contact forces.

The central portion of each of the end blocks 25 and 27, between the walls providing one surface of the bores 35,is hollowed out to provide a rectangular opening 57 which connects with theopening inside of the hub 23.

For clariiication as to this detail, see the article Pluggable Reed Relay Package by the inventor, published in the April i962 issue (Volume 4, No. 1l) of the lBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, which discloses essentially the same reed relay package as is herein described. Each end block has four vertically aligned pairs of approximately square apertures 59 between the bores 3S at either end and in connection with the rectangular openings 57. It will be noted that the leads or Shanks 17 of the reed switches extend into the opening 57 at each side and that the leads are trimmed equally at either side so that the total length of the reed switch with trimmed leads is approximately the same as the length of the bobbin 21.

An end plug 61 is inserted into the hollowed-out bobbin 21 at one side to mechanically position the reed switches and to facilitate electrical connection in the manner to be explained. An identical end plug 63 is inserted into the bobbin opening at the other side for a similar purpose. The end plugs are made of a suitable insulating material such as a plastic and are preferably made of the same material as the bobbin 2l. The end plug e3 comprises a rectangular body portion 65 which is adapted to be slidably received in the rectangular opening 57 and has four vertical bores 67 of approximately square cross-section spaced to be in alignment with the pairs of apertures 59 when the end plug is inserted into the bobbin. Projecting inwardly from the body portion 65 are three posts 69 having conca 'e side edges to receive a portion of the glass envelope 1S of a reed switch. The ends of the posts are tapered to facilitate insertion ofthe reed switches between the posts. Ot' course, the two outer reed switches are cnadled between one concave post edge and the curved inside of the bobbin 23. Between the post 69 and to either side are concave sockets or seats 71 for receiving the ends of the glass envelopes i5, the rim 73 formed by the outer edges of the concave sockets '71 and the posts 69 being of the same shape as the opening in the hub 23 to lit therein. The lead 17 of each reed switch is received in aligned holes '75 extending from the bottom of the concave socket 71 axially through the spaced walls of the body portion d5.

The modified end plug 61 shown in FG. 2 is identical to the corresponding part of FIG. 1 but has the addition of a flange 7'7 to facilitate removal of the end plug from the bobbin.

A normally closed reed switch is obtained by placing `a permanent magnet 79 adjacent the glass envelope 15 to create a magnetic force which closes the contact ends of the reeds 11 and 13. ln the assembled package, the permanent magnet bar 79 is retained between the ends of opposing posts 69 and the sides of adjacent glass envelopes 15. Of course, when a normally opened switch is desired, the permanent magnet 79 is omitted. A polarization peg d1 is provided on the bottom of the bobbin 21 which ts into a hole d3 in the printed circuit card 49 when the pluggable assembly comprising the assembled reed switches, bobbin and end plugs with or without the permanent magnet is mounted on the card or support 49. Of course, normally the coils 29 and 31 are wound on the bobbin 21 before making this assembly.

In assembling the reed relay package using either the end plug of FIG. l or the modified end plug of FIG. 2, the four reed switches are inserted onto one of the end plugs 61 or 63 with the ends of the glass envelopes 15 received in the concave sockets 71 and the leads 17 extending through the aligned axial holes 75 in the body portion 65. if the permanent magnets 79 are to be used, two such magnets are placed against the ends of the outer posts 69 retained between the glass envelopes of the adjacent reed switches. The end plug with the assembled reed switches and magnets is now inserted into an opening at one end of the bobbin and pushed into place until seating in the end block 245 or Z7 with the bores 67 in alignment with the spaced apertures 59 to provide continuous vertical bores through the assembly. The other end plug may now be inserted into the other end of the bobbin and adjusted until the leads 17 at the other ends of the reed switches enter the holes 75. It is seen that the end plugs 61 and 63 mechanically support the reed switch leads 17 at spaced points at either side of the vertical bores in the assembly and there is no misalignment or bending of the leads as the pluggable assembly is inserted down onto the connectors 47 on the printed circuit card 49. There are a pair of connectors i7 for each of the reed switches and two additional pairs for the coil terminal lugs 33 arranged in two rows on the oard 49. When the reed relay package is assembled to the printed circuit card 49, the connectors 47 extend upwardly into the vertical bores provided by the aligned end block :apertures 59 and end plug bores 67 to provide mechanical fastening of the end plugs to the bobbin 21. At the same time electrical connection is established through the reed switches as the leads 17 become wedged in the bifurcated connector slots 55. It

can now be seen that the reed switch leads 17 and the terminal lug contacts dil desirably present the same mating shape to the connectors 47. Although illustrated as wire-like, the contacts l1 may be blade shaped with a rounded bottom edge, since this type of contact has the same mating shape as the leads 17.

The advantages of the pluggable reed relay package according to the invention will be reviewed and enumerated. Pluggability provides for quick and convenient assembly of the relay to the card, and servicing and replacing of the entire reed relay are likewise quick and convenient. The ability to disassemble and reassemble easily provides for economical replacing of individual reed switches. By their design, the end plugs di and 63 provide for positioning of the reed switches in the bobbin opening, especially longitudinal. The end plugs prevent bend of the reed switch leads during mating and unmating of the leads and connectors; the holes in the end plugs provide bearings for the reed switch Shanks or leads, outboard and inboard, on each side of and very close to the bifurcated connectors 47 which effectively support the leads. The end plugs protect the reed switches and their leads and also the female connectors 47 from mechanical damage and external electrical shorting or grounding. They provide insulation between the plural connections of leads and connectors. The aligned apertures 67 and S9 between the end plugs and the bobbin end blocks 25 and 2'7 provide top access to the connectors for electrical test purposes.

Another advantage of the package is that no forming .or termination of the reed switch Shanks or leads 17 is required. Furthermore, the coil terminal lugs 33 present the same mating shape and comparable location as the reed switch leads so that the same female connector can be used for both leads and terminal lugs. The same package is used for both normally closed reed switches with permanent magnet bars and normally opened reed switches without permanent magnets, or a combination of twos is possible such as for example two normally closed and two normally opened. In View of the above, it is readily apparent that the present pluggable reed relay package is economical and suitable for mass production.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the shape of the terminal lugs 33 may be modied and the lug may be arranged to be automatically inserted down from the top instead of in from the side as here disclosed. Furthermore, the T- slots .'57, 39 may be reversed to extend down rather than up so that the bent-over liattened ends of the coil terminal lugs 33 are next to the card 49. The bobbin wire exit and entry slots used to route the coil ends to and from the terminal lugs 33 may be modilied. The upstanding bifurcated printed circuit board connector 47 may be varied such as by having a single slot 55 and revising the ilared ends 53.

What is claimed is:

gral end blocks and having a continuous axial opening therethrough,

an end plug slidably received in the opening in each of said end blocks,

l. A pluggable reed relay comprising 5 the assembled end plugs and end blocks having at least a plurality of pairs of bifurcated connectors upstandone pair of aligned vertical bores and said end blocks ing from a support and having at least one other pair of vertical bores,

a pluggable assembly removably mounted on said bifursaid end plugs also having aligned axial lead holes incated connectors, said pluggable assembly comprising tersecting said rst pair of vertical bores,

a dry reed switch having a coaxial leads exterior to a 10 said reed switch being mounted Within said bobbin besealing envelope; tween said end plugs with the leads thereof extenda bobbin having a continuous axial opening and ining through said lead holes, each of said leads being cluding a hollow hub and transverse end blocks, supported by its respective end plug at either side of an end plug received in the opening of each of said said lirst pair of vertical bores,

end blocks, coil terminal means mounted in said end blocks and insaid end blocks with said end plugs assembled therein cluding axial contacts extending across each of said having a plurality of pairs of aligned vertical bores other pair of vertical bores, and therein, at least one of the pairs of vertical bores an energizing coil wound around said hub with its ends being in alignment with said hollow hub, secured to said terminal means,

said end plugs also having aligned axial lead holes said bifurcated connectors extending into said ver-tical intersecting said one pair of vertical bores, bores into wedging engagement with said reed switch said reed switch being mounted within said bobbin leads and coil terminal contacts to establish electribetween said end plugs with the leads thereof excal connection, one of said pairs of connectors havtending through said lead holes, each of said leads ing the dual function of mechanically locking said being supported by its respective end plug at either end plugs to said bobbin end blocks.

side of each of said one pair of vertical bores, coil terminal means mounted in each of said end blocks 4. A pluggable reed relay assembly adapted to be removably mounted on pairs of bifurcated connectors upstanding from a support, said pluggable assembly comprising and each including an axial contact extending across one of another pair of said vertical bores, and

said bifurcated connectors extending into said vertical at least one dry reed switch having coaxial leads exbores in wedging engagement with said reed switch terior to a sealing envelope, leads and coil terminal contacts to simultaneously a bobbin having a continuous axial opening and inestablish electrical connection and mechanically lock cluding a hollow hub and transverse integral end said end plugs to said bobbin end blocks. blocks, 2. A pluggable reed relay comprising an end plug slidably received in the opening in each a plurality of pairs of bifurcated connectors upstandof said end blocks,

ing from a support and the assembled end plugs and end blocks having at least a pluggable assembly removably mounted on said bifurone pair of aligned vertical bores and said end blocks cated connectors, said pluggable assembly comprishaving at least one other pair of vertical bores, ing said end plugs also having aligned axial lead holes ina dry reed switch having coaxial leads exterior to a tersecting said rstpair of vertical bores,

sealing envelope, said reed switch being mounted within said bobbin bea bobbin having a continuous opening and including a tween said end plugs with the leads thereof extendhollow hub and elongated transverse end blocks, ing through said lead holes, each of said leads being an end plug received in the opening of each of said Supported by its respective end plug at either side end blocks, of said iirst pair of vertical bores, the assembled end plugs and end blocks having a pair coil terminal means secured in said end blocks and hav- Of aligned vertical bores which are also in axial ing axial contacts extending across each ofsaid other alignment With said hollow hub, pair of vertical bores, and Said end plugs als() having aligned axial lead holes Said pallS Of blfulcai'ted COIllleC'tOI'S being adaped t0 intersecting said pair of vertical bores, extend into said pairs of vertical bores into wedging said reed switch being mounted within said bobbin lgagment With Said fed Switch leads and Coil terbefwn Said end plugs with the leads thereof extendminal contacts to thereby establish electrical connecing through said lead holes, each of said leads being 'OII and SimultaneOUSlY mechacaly lock Said @11d supported by its respective end plug at spaced points Plugs to said bobbin end blocks.

at either side of each of said pair of vertical bores, said end blocks having an additional pair of vertical bores, coil terminal means mounted in each of said end blocks 5. A construction as defined in claim 4 for at least two normally closed reed switches,

said end plugs further having at least one pair of aligned axial posts extending inwardly between adjacent pairs and each including an axial wire-like contact extend- 0f Said feed SW'Che-S and CTB-Img their respective ing across one of said additional vertical bores, and Sealing CIP/610965, and

said bifurcated connectors extending into said vertical a Permanent magnet bal' fened bf-Wetm the Opposing bores in wedging engagement with said reed switch ends 0f Said Pair 0f P05/US eaCh biasing a Pair 0f he leads and coil terminal contacts to simultaneously esfeed SWChSS clOSed. tablish electrical connection and mechanically lock 6 A Pluggable read Telai assembly adapd t0 be said end plugs to said bobbin end blocks.

3. A pluggable reed relay comprising at least two pairs of bifurcated connectors upstanding from a support and a pluggable assembly removably mounted on said bifurcated connectors, said pluggable assembly comprising at least one dry reed switch having coaxial leads exterior to a sealing envelope,

a bobbin including a hollow hub and transverse intemovably mounted on pairs of bifurcated connectors upstanding from a support, said pluggable assembly comprising at least two dry reed switches each having coaxial leads exterior to a sealing envelope,

a bobbin having a continuous axial opening and including a hollow hub and enlongated transverse integral end blocks,

an end plug slidably received in the opening in each of said end blocks,

the assembled end plugs and end blocks each having at least two pairs of aligned vertical bores which are also in axial alignment with said hollow hub,

said end plugs also having aligned axial lead holes intersecting each of said pairs of vertical bores and further having at least one pair of opposing posts extending inwardly Within said hollow hub, said reed switches being mountedwithin said bobbin between said end plugs cradled against said posts with the leads thereof extending through said lead holes, each of said leads being supported by its respective end plug at either side of said pairs of vertical bores, said end blocks having two additional pairs of vertical bores at the extremities thereof, i

coil terminal lugs secured in the extremities of each of said end blocks and including axial wire-like contacts each extending across one ot said additional vertical bores, and

a pair of energizing coils wound on said hub with the ends thereof secured to said coil terminal lugs.

7. A construction as defined in claim 6 further including a permanent bar magnet retained between each said pair of opposing end plug posts and the sealing envelopes of adjacent reed switches to bias the reed switches normally closed.

8. A pluggable reed relay comprising the combination of at least four pairs of bifurcated connectors upstanding from a support, and

a pluggable assembly removably mounted on said bifurcated connectors, said pluggable assembly comprising at least two dry reed switches each having coaxial leads exterior to a sealing envelope,

a bobbin having a continuous axial opening and including a hollow hub and elongated transverse integral end blocks,

an end plug slidably received in the opening in each of said end blocks,

the assembled end plugs and end blocks each having at least two pairs of aligned vertical bores which are also in axial alignment wtih said hollow hub,

said end plugs also having aligned axial lead holes intersecting each of said pairs of vertical bores and further having at least one pair of opposing posts extending inwardly within said hollow hub,

said reed switches being mounted within said bobbin between said end plugs cradled against said posts with the leads thereof extending through said lead holes, each of said leads being supported by its respective end plug at spaced points at either side of said pairs of Vertical bores,

each of said end blocks having additional vertical bores at the extremities thereof,

coil terminal lugs secured in the extremities of each of said end blocks and including axial wiredke contacts each extending across one of said additional vertical bores, and

a pair ot energizing coils wound on said hub with the ends thereof secured to said coil terminal lugs,

said biturcated connectors extending into said vertical bores into wedging engagement with said reed switch leads and said coil terminal contacts to establish electrical connection, inner pairs of said connectors having the dual function of locking said end plugs to said bobbin end blocks.

No references cited. 

1. A PLUGGABLE REED RELAY COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF BIFURCATED CONNECTORS UPSTANDING FROM A SUPPORT AND A PLUGGABLE ASSEMBLY REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BIFURCATED CONNECTORS, SAID PLUGGABLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A DRY REED SWITCH HAVING A COAXIAL LEADS EXTERIOR TO A SEALING ENVELOPE; A BOBBIN HAVING A CONTINUOUS AXIAL OPENING AND INCLUDING A HOLLOW HUB AND TRANSVERSE END BLOCKS, AN END PLUG RECEIVED IN THE OPENING OF EACH OF SAID END BLOCKS, SAID END BLOCKS WITH SAID END PLUGS ASSEMBLED THEREIN HAVING A PLURALITY OF PAIRS OF ALIGNED VERTICAL BORES THEREIN, AT LEAST ONE OF THE PAIRS OF VERTICAL BORES BEING IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID HOLLOW HUB, SAID END PLUGS ALSO HAVING ALIGNED AXIAL LEAD HOLES INTERSECTING SAID ONE PAIR OF VERTICAL BORES, SAID REED SWITCH BEING MOUNTED WITHIN SAID BOBBIN BETWEEN SAID END PLUGS WITH THE LEADS THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH SAID LEAD HOLES,EACH OF SAID LEADS BEING SUPPORTED BY ITS RESPECTIVE END PLUG AT EITHER SIDE OF EACH OF SAID ONE PAIR OF VERTICAL BORES, 